The competition where everyone wins

Nick Vlacholias, president and chief executive officer of Brockville General Hospital, shakes hands with "Cardiac Carl," the Trillium Gift of Life Network mascot, a.k.a. Frank Vassallo, CEO of Kemptville District Hospital, at BGH on Friday afternoon. Vassallo got to don the mascot costume after losing a friendly competition with his Brockville counterpart to register the most organ donors in April.jpg, BT

The smaller hospital lost the competition, but in reality, everybody won.

To mark “BeADonor month” in April, Brockville General Hospital and Kemptville District Hospital held a friendly month-long competition to register as many new organ and tissue donors as they could.

The top administrator of the losing hospital would have to spend a day as “Cardiac Carl,” the Trillium Gift of Life Network mascot.

On Friday, fair being fair, KDH chief executive officer Frank Vassallo showed up at BGH’s Charles Street site to suit up as the giant red heart.

“This is probably the best time I’ve had losing a competition,” joked Vassallo.

But despite the fun, it was all for a serious cause.

“A staggering number of lives can be changed” through organ or tissue donation, said Vassallo.

Over the course of April, the two local hospitals registered nearly 500 new organ and tissue donors. BGH signed up 375 new donors, while KDH signed up 110.

According to the Trillium Gift of Life Network website, there are more than 1,500 people in Ontario waiting for organ transplants and thousands more waiting for tissue transplants.

Nick Vlacholias, left, president and chief executive officer of Brockville General Hospital, shares a laugh with Frank Vassallo, CEO of Kemptville District Hospital, at BGH on Friday afternoon. Vassallo got to don the mascot costume after losing a friendly competition with his Brockville counterpart to register the most organ donors in April.jpg, BT

One person consenting to donate organs and/or tissue can save up to eight lives, added Vassallo.

“The real winners, again, are the thousands across Ontario who rely on organ and tissue donations,” said BGH president and CEO Nick Vlacholias.

The BGH top administrator said the Brockville site had an advantage in the contest, at it has been doing these donor drives for the past five to seven years. He thanked all who gave their consent to be organ or tissue donors.

“I believe we had collectively outstanding results,” said Vassallo.

The Kemptville CEO took the occasion to remember his late younger sister, Andrea, and how a kidney transplant gave her a better life.

Cardiologist Dr. Jamie Hynd, the head of BGH’s medical staff and the medical lead for Trillium Gift of Life at the Brockville hospital, stressed the importance of raising awareness of organ and tissue donation.

“People are generally not going to say no to help other people in need,” said Hynd.

But the key is for people not to wait for the worst to discuss the matter with their families, he added.

“It’s not difficult for the family when you all know the wishes of the individual,” said Hynd.

The friendly competition helped raise awareness, he added.

“The people who are going to benefit the most are coming down the road,” said Hynd.

Vassallo, meanwhile, said he plans to take up the friendly challenge again next year, and pass the Cardiac Carl costume to Vlacholias next time.

Although the competition is over, both hospitals are keeping their donation pages active.